New hypnosis therapy can aid in weight loss without surgery or drugs
In this DML Report…
Researchers at Hadassah Medical Center in Israel are conducting an ongoing study on a non-invasive hypnosis-based therapy that simulates a sleeve gastrectomy to aid weight loss, without actual surgery, drugs, or anesthesia. The treatment, led by certified hypnotherapist Maya Mizrahi, takes place in a real operating room where patients are dressed in surgical gowns and connected to monitors for realism; Mizrahi, posing as a surgeon, briefs patients on the procedure steps before inducing a 50-minute hypnosis session guiding them through an imagined operation. The approach leverages the brain's inability to distinguish between reality and imagination to trigger effects like increased fullness, self-control, confidence, and motivation for dietary changes, addressing obesity-related dissociation between mind and body that leads to autopilot eating. Post-session, participants complete five self-guided hypnosis exercises, receive nutritional guides, and follow a strict liquid and soft food diet similar to post-surgical protocols.
The study involves 41 participants, including 19 with prior bariatric surgery; early three-month results show 86 percent began losing weight, with an average 10 percent body weight reduction, comparable to post-gastric bypass outcomes. Among those with previous surgery, two-thirds lost over 20 percent of their body weight, while 55 percent of those without prior surgery achieved the same. Patient Rose, 69, who regained weight after bariatric surgery and suffered severe side effects from GLP-1 injections, lost 37 pounds after three months, stating: "I was worried I wouldn’t handle it, but I was surprised. All my life I held myself back from eating. And suddenly, Maya played with my mind and things changed." Yuval Wollhandler, 45, lost 55 pounds over five months, noting: "The hypnotic surgery feels very real. You truly feel like you’ve had surgery, so you find yourself actually sticking to the strict dietary rules." Participants reported reduced cravings, easier adherence to habits like meal planning, and sustained changes up to eight months.
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Compared to traditional bariatric surgery, the hypnosis avoids risks like infections, obstructions, bleeding, and weeks-long recovery; it also sidesteps side effects of GLP-1 drugs such as nausea, vomiting, stomach paralysis, and organ failure. Mizrahi hopes the research, expected to conclude by year's end, will lead to clinical integration in hospitals for addressing weight regain. The study remains unpublished with limited evidence for long-term efficacy, relying on hypnosis responsiveness and dietary compliance; it targets the three in four Americans who are overweight or obese, offering a potential alternative amid few quick fixes.